Hewitson The Dorrien Bank Cabernet 2022
- 94
- $90
- Drink by: 2024-2034
Share
From a vineyard planted in 1996 that came into the Hewitson fold in 2019, after several years of serious vineyard rehabilitation, we now have this 100% Barossa Cab. 10% whole bunches incorporated and then 18 months in a mix of new and older French oak barriques. A deep, dark maroon hue, the nose offers up aromas of violets, chocolate, florals, orange rind, bergamot and tobacco leaves. A most expressive nose. I’d be fascinated to see what wine lovers would opt for if this was presented in a blind tasting. A cracking wine but I’m not certain it is definitely obviously varietal Cabernet (or definitely obviously varietal anything). Of course, nothing wrong with a wine just being great drinking. The palate moves to characters of aniseed, mulberries and blueberries. This is seamless in structure, a wine of medium weight with very fine tannins. Well balanced, expect this to give pleasure for at least eight to ten years. Good stuff.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
